Monday, September 10, 2012

Canada Post is being dismantled.

The Harper government is finishing what the Mulroney government started---the complete dismantling of an important, necessary Crown corporation, Canada Post.﻿

During the early 1980's, Canada Post owned 2,200 buildings with an approximate market value of $1.4 billion dollars. (See the 1984 Report of the Auditor General of Canada - Chapter 13 - 13.6).
A law created by the Mulroney government, The Canada Post Corporation Act (1985) encouraged the privatization of thousands of CP buildings, land, vintage equipment, photographs, stamp collections...
At one time, a National Postal Museum was going to be constructed in Ottawa, but the museum was never built.
The Canadian government is currently selling four Canada Post properties in Toronto, Ontario; many Torontonians are protesting the decision, because they know exactly what will happen to the properties---they will be bulldozed to make way for condo developments:

﻿﻿

50 Charles Street in Rosedale, Toronto.

﻿﻿

﻿﻿﻿

Postal Station K at 2384 Yonge Street is The Montgomery's Tavern National Historic Site of Canada, an important site at the Rebellion of 1837. The Tavern was the headquarters of William Lyon Mackenzie, leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion.

﻿﻿﻿

722 Dovercourt Road...The silver Canadian Coat of Arms plaque will be removed from the building when CB Richard Ellis sells it.

The 1992 Directory of Federal Real Property includes the three Canada Post properties that are currently on the market---772 Dovercourt Road; 50 Charles Street and 2384 Yonge Street. CP is also selling 1780 Avenue Road. The 1992 Directory of Federal Real Property can be found at Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street in Ottawa:﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

For over 20 years, Canadians have bitterly complained about the removal of postal services from government buildings--- to pharmacies, gas stations and 7-11 stores: COMMONS DEBATES February 1, 1988
CANADA POST CORPORATION
Complaint regarding parcel service in Kenora

Mr. John Parry (Kenora---Rainy River): Mr. Speaker, Canadians are not being fooled by Canada Post's efforts instigated, aided and abetted by the Conservative Government to convince them that the removal of postal services from post offices across the country and placing them in private businesses is in their best interests. A growing percentage of our mail is now being handled in places where people do not give their undivided attention to it, as they are committed to running their business, and where the mail is placed in areas which are not secure. In many cases the locations of these outlets have changed with little notice, as exasperated operators give up this time consuming customer service. _______________________________________________________________________________
Back in 1981, I had to swear an Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, before I was allowed to work at the Conference Centre in Ottawa. I also wore a uniform, and had a name tag. I cannot tell you how honoured, how proud I felt to be working in a federal government building.
I wonder if federal employees are still required to swear an Allegiance to the Queen..."I...do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors So help me God."
My mother used to say "You cannot serve two masters". All Canada Post employees should wear uniforms and name tags, and they should never leave their stations-the Canada Post counter-to ring up items on the store cash register, or take out the trash, or clean and stock the shelves. And I'd like to see a few Canadian Maple Leaf Flags at Canada Post outlets.